UM Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Program

Referring Physicians

Founded in July 2004, the University of Maryland Inflammatory Bowel Disease Program is a comprehensive, multidisciplinary center that provides care for patients with inflammatory bowel diseases and chronic diarrhea. The center now cares for more than 350 patients with inflammatory bowel disease, accounting for more than 750 patient visits each year. Our program is unique in that patients are offered dual appointments with both a gastroenterologist and surgeon at the same visit. This facet of the program is crucial for coordination between the medical and surgical services and offers convenience for patients who often travel up to 3 hours for visits. Further, we can now offer patients a complete nutritional assessment during their visits to our center. Additionally, in February 2006, the program opened an Infusion Center in the University of Maryland Faculty Practice office at 419 Redwood Street. This center offers our patients flexibility in scheduling and continuity of care, as a nurse with expertise in infusions monitors all visits. This advance has greatly improved satisfaction and safety for patients receiving infliximab and other infusion therapies. In the last fiscal year, we completed over 200 infusions.

For research and education purposes, the program developed an Inflammatory Bowel Disease Working Group that meets every month. Members include gastroenterologists, surgeons, pathologists, scientists, nurses, ostomy nurses, nutritionists, and trainees. The purpose of the group is to foster a team approach to the care of patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Discussion topics usually have a clinical focus; however, research ideas are often presented during this forum. In November 2005, the IBD Program sponsored its first regional Inflammatory Bowel Disease Symposium that included speakers from both within and outside the institution. The conference was extremely well attended and highly rated. It has now become an annual event. The next symposium will be on November 16, 2007. Beginning in July 2005, the IBD Program developed a training program for gastroenterology fellows interested in inflammatory bowel disease. The program is multifaceted containing a clinical component, clinical research, and advanced course work in clinical research.

All phases of research have expanded since the program’s inception. Program faculty published two studies on the differences of outcomes in inflammatory bowel disease by race. Additionally, one other racial disparities study is undergoing manuscript preparation. The program is involved in several active clinical research projects. For example, we are recruiting patients with ulcerative colitis to test the impact of a home telemanagement system on outcomes compared to routine care. This 12-month study will involve 110 patients and is a follow up study of a 25 patient pilot study completed in 2005. We plan to develop a similar protocol for patients with Crohn’s disease in the next year. The program is also beginning recruitment of subjects for a translational research project designed to develop a diagnostic test that will assist providers in accurately identifying patients with inflammatory bowel diseases. Program faculty recently published a study evaluating Remicade prescribing practices of physicians in Maryland and Washington D.C. To confirm the pilot study results, a follow up national study of 4,000 gastroenterologists has been completed. Publication of the results is pending. The IBD Program is in the planning phases of phase III industry-initiated studies.

We think that the University of Maryland Inflammatory Bowel Disease Program has several unique aspects that set it apart from other centers specializing in the care of patients with Crohn's and colitis:

Physician Expertise: Our physicians and nurses have a focus and commitment to the care of patients with IBD. They have vast experience in diagnosing and treating these disorders
Multidisciplinary Care: Because of the complexity of the disease, patients with IBD often require care from multiple providers. Patients in our program are able to see a gastroenterologist and surgeon at the same clinic site, often at the same visit when appropriate. In addition, the AeroDigestive Center has nutrition services that will allow patients with Crohn's disease to have a complete nutrition evaluation at the initial visit. Other resources such as imaging, endoscopy, pathology, and consult services are available at the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Timely Service: Our physicians strive to see all new patients within two weeks of the referral and to communicate our recommendations to referring physicians within one week of the office visit.
Patient Advocacy: Our physicians design treatment plans after extensive discussions with patients to ensure that their concerns are being met. We encourage an ongoing dialogue with our patients throughout the treatment process so that patients are actively involved in their care.

We think that you will be pleased with our services. We welcome your referrals. To schedule a referral, please contact Wendy Turner at 410-706-3387.

This page was last updated on: September 14, 2007.

For more information about our services or treatment options or to refer a patient to the IBD Program, please call 410-706-3387.